HOUSEHOLDERS are set to rush to install solar panels on their homes before Government subsidies are cut, a Stafford expert predicts.
Ron Fox, who runs Solorvox, is expecting huge demand over the next few weeks before the March 3 deadline.
Last week the Government lost its bid to overturn a High Court ruling blocking plans to cut subsidies for solar panels on homes from December 2011 rather than the planned date of April 1, 2012.
The Coalition had reduced the subsidy from 43.3 pence to 21 pence, for residents who had installed panels after December 12 and received rebates for the electricity they put back into the National Grid.
But the Court of Appeal ruled the cut was illegal after the decision was challenged by environmental campaign group Friends of the Earth and two solar companies.
The Government plans to challenge the decision and is seeking permission to appeal.
The subsidies are now set to be cut in March but will only affect those installing panels after that date.
Mr Fox said: “We expect a rush of people wanting to put solar panels on their roof before the March 3 deadline.
“This ruling has created a window of opportunity whereby residents who want to go green can grab the higher payments which are inflation proofed for the next 25 years.”
